Dear Sea Trail Residents and Property Owners,
We are excited to formally announce that on Monday, March 6th we became the new owners of the Convention Center, the Village Activity Center (VAC), and the 15-acre tract of land adjacent to the Convention Center known as Tract 2. These properties were acquired under Sea Trail Investments, LLC (STI). STI is jointly owned by Riptide (Robert Hill & Donald Bean) and Affordable Large Properties (Parker Smith). For those that do not know Parker, Parker owns House's Place At The Beach, the restaurant located in the VAC. Additionally, Parker owns Golf Trek, a company that packages and sells golf play with accommodations to visitors. Golf Trek plays a vital role in the success of some of the premier golf courses along the Coastal Carolina’s. Together we (STI) and our strategic partners, look forward to helping Sea Trail reach its maximum potential as a premier golf resort. We feel this can be achieved with substantial investments into Sea Trails current/future facilities, infrastructure, and commercial operations. These investments, along with smart economic and development plans, will allow Sea Trail to not just survive but thrive. As most know, there are conditional zoning submittals and requests in front of our Town leadership for consideration. If approved it will clear the way for this to begin. We took a major step in advance of these requests by closing on the Convention Center, Tract 2, and the VAC. For additional investments to take place from STI and our strategic partners, these requests are of the utmost importance. So much of the community and town residents have been incredibly supportive. We are forever grateful. We hope and believe that our town leadership, also will support. We believe that Sea Trail and our Town both receive major benefits from these endeavors.
So what can we expect in the meantime?
1.) Convention Center Overhaul
Exterior Grounds-- Reconditioned parking lots with new striping, a full landscape overhaul to include lighting, new signage, new outdoor reception area with gazebo, and water features.
Exterior of the Facility-- Overhaul to the roof, windows, doors, and full exterior clean amongst other enhancements.
Interior of the Facility-- Overhaul to the flooring, new lobby, HVAC/electrical upgrades, new modern bathrooms, new trim/paint, and ceilings, amongst other enhancements.
We are planning to work quickly in order to re-open the Convention Center, bringing it back better than ever. The Convention Center will also feature a new modern website. Here, we will release short- and long-term operational plans for the Convention Center as improvements continue.
2.) Village Activity Center Overhaul
Exterior Grounds-- New parking lots with striping, full landscape overhaul and improvement, new signage, and new outdoor lighting.
Exterior of the Facility –- Overhaul to the roof, windows, doors, and full exterior clean amongst other enhancements.
Interior of the Facility-- New floorplan configuration boasting a modern lobby, kitchen/dining expansion, new trim work, lighting, and fixtures.
Pools, Spas and Pool Decks –- New deck coatings for the outdoor dining area and the indoor and outdoor pool decks. All indoor and outdoor pools/spas will feature new plaster, tile, lighting, pumps, and signage. Additionally, you will see a newly renovated Tiki Bar outfitted with new frozen beverage machines, TVs, entertainment, and poolside accommodations. The outdoor dining area will also feature new Exterior TVs, sound improvements, a designated band area, exterior shade structures, furniture, and lighting.
We look forward to making the Village Activity Center a premier facility for all residents and visitors alike to enjoy.
In closing, we are thrilled to have made another large investment into Sea Trail. There is a lot for all of us to be excited about. We ask for your continued support and the town’s support. We understand there are many questions, some we may be able to directly answer; others we may not as we are bound and may not be able to speak as freely at this time. As things progress, we look to keeping everyone updated. For any who have not seen the conditional zoning information/meeting notice, you can review them on our webpage: www.riptidebuilders.com/seatrailinvestments
The community/public meeting is where we can discuss these requests directly with the community. The meeting will take place on March 31st from 6-8 at the Pink Palace. We will also live stream the meeting and will provide details and links on how to access the live stream in the coming days.
Here are some links to the first few printed press releases, we will see more over the next few weeks.
Below you will find the original press release published. We hope the information below combined with the above, brings you the same excitement it brings us. We look forward to bringing great, exciting things to our community for both residents and visitors to enjoy.
-Robert Hill
Community Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2023
Sea Trail Convention Center
on Track to Re-Open?
Sea Trail Investments, sister company of Riptide Builders, completes acquisition of Sea Trail Convention Center, additional properties within community
Press Contact to Arrange Interviews: Todd Rademacher
910.579.7778
todd@riptidebuilders.com
SUNSET BEACH, N.C. — Sea Trail Investments, LLC, a sister company of Riptide Builders, recently closed on the purchase of the currently dormant Sea Trail Convention Center, located at 75A Clubhouse Drive in Sunset Beach. Sea Trail Investments, also purchased the Village Activity Center, a private, fee-based clubhouse and amenity center available to the general public for memberships, and a 15-acre tract of land adjacent to the convention center. Plans for the 15-acre tract include a 150-room resort-style hotel, state-of-the-art driving range featuring top tracer technology for the avid golfer, and a brand-new practice and entertainment facility.
Sea Trail Investments, LLC is co-owned by Robert Hill and Donald Bean, who are co-owners of Riptide Builders, and Parker Smith, owner of Golf Trek. Riptide Builders, a residential and commercial builder and developer based in Sunset Beach, Riptide purchased the remaining undeveloped land in Sea Trail on July 31, 2020, giving the community declarants & owners who personally live and operate their businesses in Sunset Beach. Chinaway Corporate Development, LLC, which previously owned the convention center, amenity center and undeveloped land, currently maintains ownership of the golf courses.
“We live in Sunset Beach, and our company made a major investment in the future of our community when we purchased the remaining undeveloped land in Sea Trail nearly three years ago,” said Robert Hill, co-owner of both Riptide Builders & Sea Trail Investments. “The purchase of the convention center, future hotel site, and the amenity center is the next phase in our effort to revitalize Sea Trail. We are in what should be the final phase of a development agreement and conditional zoning with the Town, and we are ready to partner with them to continue revitalizing Sea Trail.”
“Over the past year, we have pumped over $50 million into revitalizing Sea Trail, and that investment will continue with the acquisition of the convention center, future hotel site, and activity center,” said Donald Bean, co-owner of Riptide Builders. “After sitting dormant for several years, the convention center will receive an overhaul of all major components of the facility as well as major upgrades to the parking lots, outdoor reception areas, lighting, and signage. These improvements will optimize the convention center’s potential to be a source of pride for Sea Trail and an economic engine for Sunset Beach.”
“The entire Sea Trail Golf Resort has an amazing future thanks to our partnership with Riptide Builders and the cooperation of the Town of Sunset Beach,” said Parker Smith, co-owner of Sea Trail Investments, LLC and owner of Golf Trek. Golf Trek, which is the largest area provider for Myrtle Beach golf packages, re-started the short-term rental program within Sea Trail in 2018. Additionally, Golf Trek operates Sea Trail Investments’ newly acquired amenity center in Sea Trail, which features House’s Place at the Beach, a local’s favorite restaurant and catering business offering food, drinks, and indoor, outdoor, and poolside accommodations.
Sea Trail residents have voiced strong support for these new investments planned for their community.
“After living in Sea Trail for over 19 years, we are so excited to finally see the advancement of the future plans for our community,” said Sea Trail resident Candy Fowler. “With the recent purchase of the Convention Center, adjacent land, and activity center, Riptide Builders will finally be able to make their vision for the future of Sea Trail a reality. We are so thankful that they have worked diligently with the Town of Sunset Beach and the Sea Trail Master Association to make positive things happen. They have recruited willing investors and built an amazing team, who are waiting in the wings for final approval by the Town. We look forward, hopefully within the next few months, to seeing the start of the long overdue reawakening of our little piece of paradise!”
"We love Sunset Beach and Sea Trail, and our little slice of paradise has so much potential,” said Jack Phillabaum, a Sea Trail resident. “Resort communities have resort-style amenities like restaurants and shops, and Riptide Builders' plans will bring those much-needed amenities to our community. I'm excited about their plans, and hope they are able to move forward sooner rather than later."
The golf courses are a fundamental part of Sea Trail,” said Sea Trail resident Roz Dahlen. The three golf courses are the reason my husband and I chose Sea Trail. Riptide has repeatedly stated their commitment to not only preserving, but enhancing, the golf courses in Sea Trail to their full potential. For the golf courses and the convention center to succeed, our community must have quality practice facilities, golf courses and lodging opportunities, which I believe Riptide will bring to Sea Trail. They've got us on the right track."
Since acquiring the undeveloped land in Sea Trail in July 2020, Riptide and the Sea Trail Master Association have made a number of investments in infrastructure and amenities within the community, including:
Remodeling the interior of the Maples Activity Center and adding a new commercial elevator to the facility
Renovating, modernizing and beautifying every entry wall to Sea Trail
Completing a grounds and landscape enhancement to the community’s chapel
Installing new ornamental street signs and posts throughout Sea Trail
Numerous landscape enhancements throughout common areas, with more planned
Hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in stormwater repairs, with more in process and planned
A major renovation of Sea Trail’s largest amenity center’s pool and pool deck, known as the “pink palace,” is underway and will include the addition of a new 10-15 person in-ground spa, a completely overhauled and remodeled pool, a stunning three-piece paver pool deck, new landscaping and entertainment facilities, and new furniture and shade structures.
In addition to the infrastructure and amenity investments, Riptide is working to add new, quality development to Sea Trail, including:
Byrd Watch, a 49-lot single-family home subdivision, is a few weeks away from completion.
The Townhomes on Eastwood Bluff, an 88-unit luxury townhome and amenity project, is over halfway complete.
Riptide is launching Sawmill Townhomes, a 27-unit townhome project in the heart of Sea Trail, later this month
Riptide will begin development of Gulls Landing, a 93-site single-family home project, in April.
Riptide is in the final engineering and state permitting phase of Pelican Reserve, a single-family home project which will bring additional amenities to Sea Trail residents, including a large new beautiful clubhouse and pool, pickle ball courts, a sizable dog park with agility and training facilities, a community dock and nature overlook, and green space areas featuring gazebos and terraces.
All upcoming Riptide development within Sea Trail includes new sidewalks and street trees. Additionally, Pelican Reserve will give residents a new entry to Sea Trail from Angels Trace Road, which offers access to downtown Sunset Beach.
“Our vision is for Sea Trail to thrive as a resort community that caters to both year-round residents and visitors,” Hill added. “We have a vision centered around quality residential and commercial development and amenities. We are committed to Sea Trail, and with the Town of Sunset Beach’s partnership and cooperation we will make our vision to revitalize Sea Trail a reality.”
Robert Hill and Donald Bean, both of whom reside in Sunset Beach, co-founded Riptide Builders in 2009. The company maintains both an operations office and a design center in Sunset Beach and has staffed model homes in several parts of Sea Trail including The Townhomes on Eastwood Bluff its premier Townhome Project. The company currently builds between 80-100 new construction homes each year. Riptide supports community and civic causes, including those benefitting veterans, autism, cancer (multiple myeloma) and education. The company maintains a staff of between 20-30 people in Sunset Beach. For more information, visit https://riptidebuilders.com.
Prior to co-founding Riptide, Robert Hill worked in real estate and owned and managed a Century 21 office. His experience in real estate provided a keen understanding of what buyers want and strengthened his ability to work with developers and builders. He sold the agency prior to the great recession in 2007 and pursued his unlimited building contractors’ license. Hill is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who saw action in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He lives in Sunset Beach with his wife, Jessica, a former second grade teacher at Virginia Williamson Elementary in Bolivia, who is now a stay-at-home mom with their two children Ryker 10 and Hadley 4.
Prior to co-founding Riptide, Donald Bean held licenses as a Master Plumber and Heating Contractor as well as a Hoisting and Engineering license. Bean lives in Sunset Beach with his wife, Leah, who is in senior management with Butterfly Effects, a company that specializes in the treatment of autism. Donald and Leah have two children.